More new homes than expected? Councillors claim more than 500 homes will be “sneaked” in

Huddersfield Road in Mirfield.

Published:09:00Friday 11 December 2015

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Mirfield councillors have said that more than 500 homes will be “sneaked” into the boundary of the town as part of a long-term plan.

Coun Viven Lees-Hamilton and Coun Martyn Bolt have said the the number of homes proposed for the town is more than double the figure that was initially made clear in the Local Plan, Kirklees Council’s long term strategy for housing and industry.

They said that within a development 2,500-home development by Ravensthorpe, which falls in the Dewsbury West ward, 571 of those homes would fall in Mirfield on top of 400 specifically allocated.

Coun Bolt said: “The Mirfield people I have spoken to feel very strongly about an extra 571 homes within the boundary.

“One of the principle concerns if the lack of additional infrastructure that has been proposed. The lack of consideration for Mirfield is palpable.”

Coun Lees-Hamilton was also concerned additional homes being built would not necessarily lead to more money being spent on infrastructure in that area.

She said: “Mirfield could get 2,000 homes and the money for infractucture that should match it could spent in Huddersfield or Batley.”

But council leader David Sheard said: “Martyn’s world begins and ends in Mirfield, and the three wards with the highest number of developments have been Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton and Greenhead.

“The money will be spent where the demand is required by the development, but the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats just like spending it in their own wards – we spend where it is needed.”

Under the plan for Ravensthorpe new school would be created, its railway station would be improved and there would be a relief road built to counteract congestion surrounding the A644.